[Atypical manifestation of severe mitral valve insufficiency. On the diagnosis and differential diagnosis based on a case report].

Report on a severe mitral valve insufficiency in a patient in whom all chordae tendinae of the posterior cusp of the mitral valve had completely ruptured for inexplicable reasons. An unusual feature of this condition was the prolonged clinical course for a period of two weeks and the markedly unilateral lung infiltrations seen on the plain x-ray of the thorax. Evidently non-specific inflammation parameters, such as elevated temperature, accelerated sedimentation rate, leukocytosis with shift to the left, prompted differential diagnosis of atypical pneumonia, e.g. legionellosis due to the identification of legionella antigen in the urine. In view of the fact that the patient had the initial signs and symptoms (dyspnoea, partly sanguineous sputum) after working in the garden (possible inhalation of a noxious substance?) we suspected an exogenous allergic alveolitis. This, however, could be excluded by a bronchoalveolar lavage (there were no lymphocytes in the wash). Last but not least, differential diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome was considered, where the pulmonary manifestation (haemorrhagic pneumonia) may precede the renal sign (glomerulonephritis). Diagnosis was finally established in the typical manner via echocardiography. Quantification of the mitral insufficiency was achieved by right cardiac catheterisation (v-wave 60 mmHg) and cardioangiography. Immediate mitral valve replacement surgery was effected without problems. However, the patient died on the 10th postoperative day from bacterial pneumonia.